If the dog is used as a weapon, has been trained to be aggressive or is a banned species will be factors used to assess blameworthiness in cases where a victim is injured or killed. The maximum sentences for allowing a dog to attack someone have also been substantially increased.

Dog owners face up to 14 years, from two years, for a fatal dog attack and up to five years, from two years, if a dog causes injury to another person.

The changes come after it was revealed the number of people taken to hospital after dog attacks has risen by 76 per cent in the past decade.

South Yorkshire Police revealed 191 dangerous and illegal dogs have been destroyed on their orders between 2012 and 2014 alone.

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